Mark Cavendish was relaxed and smiling as he signed on for Sunday?s criterium stage in the centre of Milan.
Cav is still looking for his first stage win in this year?s Giro and Team Columbia could complete a hat trick of stage wins if the young Brit gets the better of Alessandro Petacchi (LPR) and the other sprinters at the finish.
Cavendish hinted that Team Columbia had some special plans for the finish but didn?t want to reveal them.
Cavendish is not at his best but he will surely want to beat Petacchi win his first stage. Even a Cavendish at 80 per cent should be enough to beat Petacchi.
Sprint consultant Erik Zabel thinks so and told Cycling Weekly to expect a special sprint at the end of the 165km stage.
?The Milan stage is called the ?Milan Show 100? stage and we expect a show stage,? Zabel said.
?We hope for a sprint of the kings: Petacchi against Cavendish. Other guys have won stages and had the jerseys but it?ll be everything for Cav in Milan.?
Zabel is convinced he is finding some form after a week of racing at the Giro.
?Two days ago Mark seemed a little tired after the stage but he looked good after the stage to Chiavenna and he was good in Bergamo after the finish. Sitsou?s win was an extra unexpected success in Bergamo and so moral is sky high in the team. We hope we can win again in Milan.?
We will find out later this afternoon in Milan.
Watch out for our full report and photos after the stage finish
| Giro d'Italia 2009 links |
Stage reports
Stage eight: Siutsou makes it two in a row for Columbia-Highroad
Stage seven: Boasson Hagen takes treacherous stage
Stage six: Scarponi wins longest stage with big break
Stage five: Menchov wins mountain battle as Di Luca grabs the pink jersey
Stage four: Di Luca denies Soler on the line; Lovkvist takes pink jersey
Stage three: Cavendish loses pink jersey after being caught behind late crash
Stage two: Petacchi denies Cavendish the stage win
Stage one: Cavendish in pink as Columbia prove their point to Garmin
Photo galleries
News
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Cavendish overjoyed for Boasson Hagen
Armstrong 'livid' at dangerous Giro stage
Astana riders wear faded kit in protest over unpaid wages
Armstrong sees Leipheimer in pink
Giro news round-up: 14 May
Wiggins: 'I can't keep smashing away on the climbs'
Wiggins eyes top 20 finish overall
Armstrong after Giro stage 5: 'That was hard'
Cavendish looking for Giro revenge
Armstrong happy with stage four performance
Lovkvist will fight to keep Giro lead
Giro could be last race for Armstrong's team
Vande Velde crashes out of Giro
Petacchi claims he didn't know of Cavendish crash
Cavendish struggles to find consolation in pink jersey
Petacchi: I've been working out how to beat Cav
I'm wearing pink on behalf of the team, says Cavendish
Wiggins ready to win Giro team time trial
Friday, May 8: Giro news round-up
Cavendish out to topple Garmin in Giro team time trial
Team time trial start times
Cycling Weekly's Giro d'Italia top ten prediction
Brits in Venice for Giro presentation
Armstrong overshadows overall favourites at Giro presentation
Armstrong confident of finding new sponsor for Astana
Armstrong working to save Astana team
Wiggins in top form for Giro
Garmin Slipstream kitted out for Giro opener
Dan Lloyd gets late Giro call-up
Armstrong's special Giro bikes unveiled
Daniel Lloyd overlooked for Giro ride
Cummings and Thomas not selected for Giro d'Italia
Cavendish tests Giro form at Tour of Romandie
David Millar confirms he's riding in 2009 Giro
Bennati to take on Cavendish in Giro 2009 sprints
2009 Giro d'Italia to start in Venice
Evans and Silence-Lotto disagree on Giro 2009 ride
Armstrong to ride 2009 Giro
Tuttosport reveals 2009 Giro d'Italia route
Dolce & Gabbana design new Giro jersey
2009 Giro d'Italia guide and features
Find the pink jersey competition
Giro d'Italia 2009: The Big Preview
British riders to have led the grand tours
CW's Giro top ten prediction
Brits in the Giro 2009
Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Cavendish
CW Classic: the 1987 Giro d'Italia
2008 Giro d'Italia archive
Giro d'Italia 2008 coverage index - race reports, photos, results
From rule Britannia to cruel Britannia
Giro 2008: The final word on this year's race
Brits at the 2008 Giro: photo special
Five days to go, what's in store?
Giro d'Italia 2008: Rest day review (May 27)
Giro d'Italia 2008: Rest day review (May 19)
Giro d'Italia 2008 preview
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